Keep on-field try calls, Bird tells NRL

Gold Coast veteran Greg Bird hopes the NRL continues to let referees make judgments calls on tries before passing them onto the bunker for review.

Bird said he was a fan of the system after the Titans escaped with a controversial 24-20 win over Canberra at GIO Stadium on Saturday when John Olive scored in the 79th minute.

But the club could be at risk of losing the two competition points, with the NRL reviewing claims they fielded 14 men when David Shillington took to the ground while an injured Tyrone Roberts stayed on in the 48th minute.

There were also allegations Josh Hoffman came off late with a hand injury but cited concussion, with the Titans already out of interchanges.

Olive’s match-winning four-pointer only compounded the controversy.

On-field official Henry Perenara sent a ‘try’ to the bunker based on a touch judge’s call.

With the ball not visible on replays, it was awarded – to the ire of some Raiders players and 11,000-strong crowd.

Raiders coach Ricky Stuart said he wasn’t sure whether the ball was planted.

But Olive, 19, was in no doubt.

“100 per cent I got it down,” he told AAP.

“There was a sigh of relief when I actually got it down. I was just happy that we got the lead.”

Bird spoke to Nene MacDonald who was out on the wing and said he, too, saw the ball hit the ground.

“And he was pretty much standing right next to the touchie,” Bird told AAP.

“I’ve always been a fan of the on-field decision and it worked in our favour.”

Bird did not want to comment on the alleged interchange bungle, leaving it instead up to coach Neil Henry.

Henry admitted there was some confusion among sideline officials but that Shillington wouldn’t have been on for longer than five seconds.

“I had no idea what was going on,” Bird added. “I was too busy focusing on my job.

“I thought we had about three men less on the field at one stage, it felt like we were scrambling.”

The Titans could be without Roberts for Friday’s match against Brisbane with possible knee ligament damage.

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